If the crowd sat dead silent, on their hands, not reacting to the match at all, would it have been better? I can't positively say that they booed Rock because of his booming film career or not. I just think that he was about due for some booing. As someone pointed out, after some odd number of years of being a face, you tend to get boring.

The Rock was booed when his entrance theme kicked on, if you go back and watched the match. The first 15 seconds of the match, the "Rocky Sucks" chants started. The fans were gunning for him before the match started. They booed the Sharpshooter then started cheering "Let's Go Lesner!". The Rock started to play into them, with the evil eyes and nasty stares.

They cheered when Heyman interfered. Here lies my theory.Rock was in ECW territory last night. Paul Heyman is thought highly of. Whomever Heyman endorses is a good guy, despite Brock being booked at the heel. When all theories are drawn out, despite that race one (because I could go on for days about that one), I think it boils down to SummerSlam being in New York.

I disagree about the statement that the live crowd matters and the at home crowd doesn't. They still make a lotta' money off of people sitting at home, and since I'm there, at home, for usually 10, 11 or 12 of those events yearly (depending on where they go) I'd like to think that MY buyrate matters. In terms of crowd reaction, you are right, however.

Also, anyone else notice that all the Lesnar chants were really deep and all the Rocky chants were really high pitched? Not to grossly generalize, but it sounded like the women and children vs. the men. An interesting mix. Me, I loved the woman in the American Flag "Jug Bring It" shirt biting her fingernails and almost crying as Brock beat the Rock senseless in front of her on the gaurd rail.

Also, one thing I've noticed, is Rock's promos and entrance haven't been AS over lately. He's still over as hell, but his mic work and matches weren't AS over as they had been in the past. Something to think about...

You ever notice how girls who wore lots of make-up and were considered goog looking or doable in high school, AIN'T that good lookin' a few years after you've graduated? Still doable though. Oh yeah. MORE doable. Hehe.

Maybe the crowd booed Rock because they like Lesnar more. i know there are many people who do, myself included. it could have been a freak mass-gathering of Brock fans. I really dont think its a big deal that the Rock gets booed once or twice a year, instead of people constantly kissing his ass. I personally enjoy it when this happens, because i like the way Rocky works as a heel.

I'm sorry oh lord of all that is great and good. But saying the word "Rudo" does make me feel smarter. RUDO! RUDO! RUDO! RUDO!. I can feel the smartness flowing through me as I say it.

Anyway.

I have to agree with you on the generalisation of more high pitch screams for the Rock. Thats been going on for a while actually. However did you see thst blonde woman in the front row near the guy with the Tazz shirt. She wanted Brock to win BAD.

Also I don't think Vince cares who the crowd boos or cheers as long as the money is rolling in. And I think Rock would prefere any reaction than being met with dead silence during a match.

Originally posted by VK WallstreetThe real point is don't ever criticize a crowd for what they choose to cheer and boo. They're what matters, not you sitting at home.

I think what really angers some people is that it's the whole "group think" thing. Yeah, large numbers usually do have a greater influence in the moment, but when everyone wakes up the next morning, how cool was it really?

It's how Jesse Ventura got elected. Now, most people can't stand the guy and they want real politicians back in office.

What was the point of cheering Brock? It seemed to me that it had less to do with Brock's "overness" and more to do with them trying to be like the WMX8 crowd. They just decided "Hey, we're going to cheer Brock tonight and make him OUR face." It's especially apparent in that they booed The Rock, who has been probably the most influential part in the buildup to this match.

I'm sure it's fun if you're actually in the crowd and decide to lose any and all intelligence, resorting to your primal instincts to let loose for three hours, but when it comes across on TV it just makes no damned sense. It's like WWE decided to throw a show from Hell. I miss the days when crowds were less independent and more prone to mind control.

The Brock experiment seems successful thus far... but, how will they follow through? Monster heel pushes aren't designed to get the heels over, they're designed to get the man who beats the monster heel over (ex: Flair over Vader at Starrcade '93, Bret over Yoko at WM10). Let's see how they follow through, and I hope it isn't with an HHH victory.

EDIT: I guess the main point I wanted to address was that the TV audience actually matters more than the in-house audience, because they are the ones viewing the end-product on television. There are, typically, more television viewers than those in the arena and they will be the ones that will make decisions on what worked and what didn't in the longrun. Everyone matters, but the majority are actually in their living rooms and they're not in the arena to be influenced by the drunk guys sitting next to them.

First off, I think this is a testament to Rock's ability to always get a reaction. There's something about the guy that solicits a strong response, either negative or positive, from fans. People either think the guy sucks or that he's damn good - very few people don't have a strong opinion on the guy.

I think there's a whole bunch of reasons why the Long Islanders turned on The Rock.

1. Like someone said, it's ECW country. Another reason why Mr Perfect probably would have been a better choice as Brock's manager. ECW fans love Paul, and the ECW faces weren't pretty-boy high school bully faces like The Rock, they were badasses like Brock Lesnar is supposed to be.

2. Last Raw and Smackdown, Rock cut some promos that were pretty much universally panned as uninspired and began a twinge of an idea that The Rock character is played out. Remember when he was shaking his leg and going 'down, boy'! And everyone rolled their eyes?

3. Rock has been a face for.. what, 3 years? And Rock is not a pure babyface, the character is really a jerk. It seems it was just a matter of time before this happened, IMO.

4. As someone else mentioned... The women and children love the rock. The husbands and brothers roll their eyes at the women cheering on their ideal lover and the kids looking up to this guy (as if he's any kind of role model). So the guys have seen enough, and let him have it.

5. The guy is leaving to make movies again. He squeals at austin to 'get the F out' for ditching the wwf, and then... in the fan's eyes.. He's doing nearly the exact same thing, and when the WWE could really use him, too.

But why would you get mad at the crowd? They have a right to do what thy want. The only reason to get mad is if a crowd is unresponsive, and this crowd was ANYTHING BUT unresponsive. So they turned on The Rock. He's still getting a reaction, that's all that matters. And that's what the guy does best.

Tonight's MSG show will be VERY interesting. How will the crowd react to Brock (and Paul?). If Brock turns on Paul (which I doubt they'd do unless they have a new mouthpiece for him), the fans will probably boo. But other than that.. It's hard to predict what the fans will do. If I was the WWE, I'd just stick to the plan and let the fans do what they want. I think the only problem that could come up (and it COULD happen tonight) is if Brock gets NO reaction.

The Rock is not doing me any favours. He can either go make movies, and be a small wheel, or he can come back to wrestling where he's a God. Let's not erase ego from the equation. In the film industry Rock is not big star, he's had one hit movie which puts him in a category with a lot of people who aren't considered special. He's got a lot of potential, but I don't like the attitude people have...We're supposed to just bow down and masturbate every time the Rock graces us with his presence. Bullshit. The Rock is in the WWE because he wants to be, and if he was not getting a reaction to stroke his ego, he wouldn't be here.

That's not a bad thing, necessarily. I mean, who wouldn't want to be the unrivaled top dog in any industry? I would. And I'd stick around in it to enjoy the ride. But it's not like Rock's working for free. "Sure Vince, don't worry about that, the Rock will sell programs, the Rock will put the ring together the Rock will do anything for the company." Just doing something you don't have to do doesn't mean you are making the ultimate sacrifice.

He wants to be a part-timer, that's fine. But don't bullshit me. I work part-time at a telemarketing firm. But I don't claim to have a passion for it that will last a lifetime. I love the Rock, and I'm proud he jobbed the right way (in other words, without Heymen, without him having pinned Brock when the ref was knocked out, etc.) but he is going to get shit on by crowds if he keeps cuttung out every two months to make a movie.

"There once lived a man named RayWho suspected he just might be gay,he got moist around males,and he painted his nails, but his ass-f*cking gave it away."

Did anyone stop to think that maybe the crowd just happened to *like* Brock Lesnar? And why wouldn't they, the death of Hulkamania aside (although that just endeared Brock to me more)? Brock's character hasn't done much besides being a big, tough guy since he arrived. He doesn't cheat or run or whine like the more classical heels we have now (Angle, Jericho). Fans have always gotten behind the guy who is tough and unstoppable (think Goldberg). Brock has destroyed everything in his path since arriving, and he has an awesome finishing move. That's enough for the fans to love him.

That, and this is Long Island, and Paul Heyman wears a Yankees cap.

As soon as you're born you start dying, so you might as well have a good time.

Originally posted by Hogan's My DadThe Rock is not doing me any favours. He can either go make movies, and be a small wheel, or he can come back to wrestling where he's a God. Let's not erase ego from the equation. In the film industry Rock is not big star, he's had one hit movie which puts him in a category with a lot of people who aren't considered special. He's got a lot of potential, but I don't like the attitude people have...We're supposed to just bow down and masturbate every time the Rock graces us with his presence. Bullshit. The Rock is in the WWE because he wants to be, and if he was not getting a reaction to stroke his ego, he wouldn't be here.

That's not a bad thing, necessarily. I mean, who wouldn't want to be the unrivaled top dog in any industry? I would. And I'd stick around in it to enjoy the ride. But it's not like Rock's working for free. "Sure Vince, don't worry about that, the Rock will sell programs, the Rock will put the ring together the Rock will do anything for the company." Just doing something you don't have to do doesn't mean you are making the ultimate sacrifice.

He wants to be a part-timer, that's fine. But don't bullshit me. I work part-time at a telemarketing firm. But I don't claim to have a passion for it that will last a lifetime. I love the Rock, and I'm proud he jobbed the right way (in other words, without Heymen, without him having pinned Brock when the ref was knocked out, etc.) but he is going to get shit on by crowds if he keeps cuttung out every two months to make a movie.

I see what your saying here about fans thinking he is "selling out" to Hollywood then returning, but it's not as if he is doing this by himself. This ain't exactly Stone Cold desertion.

This was all instigated by the Vince and the company to help them get a foothold in Hollywood themselves.

Also with there now being a whole film division dedicated to finding vehicles for some of the wrestlers to star in. How long before a Kurt Angle, Triple H or Booker T (The REAL Scorpion King) goes "Hollywood". Will the fans boo them for leaving too? I say good luck to them. Make the most amount of maoney while you can because if you do get injured badly and can't wrestle any longer Vince and the fans are not going to pay for your medical bills.

And as you said, what other top main eventer would have put over Brock so claen as that. Austin didn't want to.

Finally. If you pay upwards of £30/$40 to go and watch a show, you have bought the right to boo and cheer whoever the hell you want. If i'm going to pay to see my team Chelsea play (English football team if you don't know and no wise cracks if you do:) ) I have bought the right to boo and cheer whoever I want on the field weather it's one of my own players or not. I don't see why this crowd is getting this much heat. Better loud than silent.

This was all instigated by the Vince and the company to help them get a foothold in Hollywood themselves.

Very true, but i doubt many casual fans are aware of this. even if they are, what they might see is the Rock going to Hollywood, therefore he's not there with them in WWE. for whentever reason, he will be gone, and that could be pissing them off.

Originally posted by BoromirMarkThey booed the Rock because the Rock is a HEEL CHARACTER, and an immature unfunny one at that. If you idiotic Rock marks'd get your heads outta his ass and take a look at something called 'reality', maybe you'd realize that just like Nassau did tonight. God that crowd was ON, and ruled.

The Rock doesn't have to be as giving to the business as he is. He could do what Hogan did for years and make movies while holding the title. I bet the PPV's that he participated in will have a lot bigger payouts than the ones without him. We should be happy that The Rock takes after Foley instead of the Hogans, Harts and HBKs before him. What's that got to do with boos and cheers, nothing but I still think that the Rock getting booed is a strange thing.

I just want to point out that the crowd reaction may lead to some bad WWE business making. Say for instance, face Brock vs. heel HHH. Instead of pushing Booker T, RVD, Kane or any other up coming face guys, we have to sit throw another HHH main event.

The booing continues. I got back from MSG and they were booing the hell out of the Rock. They chanted, "Rocky Sucks!" unprompted. Rocky sucks again when he appeared on a video montage in a staredown with Austin. Also booing stone cold. The chanted when Brock Lesner was introduced and again when a pro-vote video aired they booed the Rock and Kurt Angle. Love the Angle booes when he is trying to make a serious political statement. The same people booing were the ones from Long Island working the ECW chant most of the night. It doesn't make any sense, but ECW fans hate the Rock.

It's just a ploy to get interested promoters to book his talent. The promoter calls up, finds out there's NO CHANCE of him booking Austin/Hogan (which I doubt this Gagne guy could do, anyway) and has to settle for other workers for his low-budget show.